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Heights Kids Advocate For New Soccer Field, Secure $1M From Local Pols

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Students at P.S. 28 are in the middle of a real-world civics lesson, and they just might get a new soccer field out of it.

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Congressman Espaillat and Council Member De La Rosa Secured $1 Million To Improve Athletic Field

NEW YORK, NY - Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), in collaboration with New York City Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, joined P.S. 28 administrators to announce the allocation of $1 Million in combined federal and local funding for a soccer field. This initiative will convert an unused handball court into a vibrant soccer field, providing recreational space for local schools and fostering community engagement.

The renovations bring new, safe opportunities for students to engage in athletic activities, prep them for future athletic endeavors, increase recreation for student mental and physical health, and improves academic outcomes.

"The community spoke, and we listened. I was proud to deliver $500,000 in federal funding to create a soccer field at P.S. 28 - The Wright Brothers School located in my district, and a space that will provide recreational opportunities for four schools in the area, while ensuring a safe and healthy place for sports engagement and outdoor activities for young people in our community," said Rep. Espaillat. "I am deeply appreciative to New York City Council Member Carmen De La Rosa for her commitment to match this funding to help bring this project to fruition this year for youth throughout our district. Together, we are working to ensure stronger and more vibrant spaces for youth and their families."

"Our students deserve safe spaces to play and explore their athletic interests, enhancing their educational experience. The students and their administrators learned about the civic engagement process in their efforts by reaching out to our offices and learning about how government budgets function. I'm proud to collaborate with Congressmember Espaillat to use federal and city funding for a new future for P.S. 28," said Council Member Carmen De La Rosa.

"We are elated that Congressman Espaillat and Councilmember De La Rosa support our "Hyper Local Activism" project. They are helping PS 28 students, and all students, realize that we can be agents of change in our neighborhoods. At the same time, they are acknowledging the role full-time school librarians have in supporting civic engagement in our communities," said Lauren Ginsberg-DeVilbiss, Library Media Specialist, P.S. 28 The Wright Brothers School.

Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fourth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government's vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 118th Congress. He is also a member of the House Budget Committee and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), where he serves in a leadership role as the Deputy Chair as well as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI). Rep. Espaillat is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.

Media inquiries: Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov

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WASHINGTON HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL P.S. 28 RECEIVES NEW FUNDING FOR SOCCER FIELD TRANSFORMATION | Rep. Adriano Espaillat

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NEW YORK, NY - Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), in collaboration with New York City Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, joined P.S.

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Washington Heights students secure $1M for new soccer field

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The announcement was met with applause from students, who had campaigned for the project for two years.

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P.S. 28 community secures $1.2 million for new soccer field through letter-writing campaign

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The P.S. 28 Wright Brothers School in Washington Heights secured $1 million in funding toward the construction of a new turf soccer field following a yearlong grassroots campaign, school administrators announced on Sept. 17 alongside Rep. Adriano Espaillat and New York City Council member Carmen De La Rosa.

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For me, the best part of any library visit is entering through the front door.

Whether it's marveling at the dome inside Carnegie-Stout Public Library in Dubuque, Iowa, the vibrant entrepreneurship lab at University of Rhode Island in Kingston, or the bright carpets and colorful student art at P.S. 28 in Manhattan, those first few moments through the door always call home the magic that happens inside our buildings.

We circulate bicycle repair kits in Cascade, Idaho; publish local history in Quezon City, Philippines; and host tango nights in New York City. The programming and resources we offer our communities may be different, but we all offer space, welcoming our communities to join us.

The Library Design Showcase in the September/October issue celebrates some of the best of these library spaces. The ALA/AIA Library Building Awards honor distinguished accomplishments in library architecture, and next year's ALA/IIDA Library Interior Design Awards will highlight the best indoor spaces of the past two years.

As someone who has worked in libraries that looked like castles (Jefferson Market branch of New York Public Library), modernist triangles (Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York), and old department stores (Graduate Center of City University of New York), I am excited to feast my eyes on this year's selection.

Wendy Tressler, president of ALA's Core division, shared with me the history of these prizes. In 1957, the awards were transferred from ALA to its new Library Administration Division. After several name changes spanning over 60 years, in 2020, the Library Leadership and Management Association merged with two other ALA divisions-Association for Library Collections and Technical Services and Library Information Technology Association-to become Core. At the end of October, Core will celebrate its second in-person forum, in New Orleans. I attended last year and encourage everyone who can to make the trip-you will learn so much about the systems and structures that make libraries go.

This history also reminds us that ALA, just like our libraries and communities, is always changing. Last spring, members affirmed a revised set of bylaws in a process shepherded by ALA Past President Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada. The Executive Board and Council, alongside ALA's committed staff members, are implementing those changes now. They are intended to make our governance structures more accessible and the Association more nimble, so that we can better respond to challenges as they emerge.

As library workers face pressing challenges related to climate change, funding, intellectual freedom, and, yes, the perennial need for more and better buildings and interiors, a stronger ALA is as important as ever.

In July 2022, I had the honor of visiting with Cheryl Heid, director of Grimes (Iowa) Public Library (GPL). ALA Executive Board member Sam Helmick and I donned hard hats and walked through the bones of a new building that quadruples the size of the library, with a sensory room, multiple meeting rooms that can be reserved after library hours, and a drive-through circulation window. Its roof is shaped like an open book that beckons from the highway. Heid told us about the dozens of conversations she had with patrons, community members, civic leaders, and government officials over the years to garner support for the new library. Just as much as it's being built nail by nail, GPL is also built handshake by handshake, phone call by phone call.

And that's how we'll build the power of the American Library Association too.

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A Welcoming Space | American Libraries Magazine

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For me, the best part of any library visit is entering through the front door, calling home the magic that happens inside our buildings.

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NEW YORK -- Some are fighting local efforts to censor books, while others are focused on cultural programs, education about Ukraine or helping people buy groceries: These are this year's winners of the I Love My Librarian Award.

Based everywhere from New York City to Carencro, Louisiana, the winners share a common desire to work closely with their patrons.

"Even in these unprecedented times and as our nation's library workers face historic levels of intimidation and harassment due to an ongoing wave of book censorship, librarians continue to empower their patrons, teach critical literacy skills, promote inclusion in their space and collections, and provide vital services for their communities," American Library Association President Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada said in a statement Tuesday.

Each of the 10 honorees will receive a $5,000 cash prize and a $750 travel stipend to attend the library association's LibLearnX event later this month in New Orleans. The awards are based on nominations from library users around the country and made possible by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and support from the New York Public Library.

Winners include Kathryn Blackmer Reyes of the San Jose State University library in San Jose, California, cited for how she promoted untold stories by Asian Americans, Native Americans and Hispanics among others. At the Highlands County Library System in Sebring, Florida, Vikki Brown successfully pressed for a grant to set up a mobile library for the rural population.

Cara Chance of the Lafayette Public Library, in Carencro, Louisiana, has battled efforts by the library's Board of Control to restricts books with LGBTQ themes. Tara Coleman, based at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, has led a campuswide common reading program; and David Ettinger, at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., is working with students on their research skills.

At Childs Elementary School, in Bloomington, Indiana, Julie Marie Frye is helping kids learn more about Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion. Lauren Ginsberg-DeVilbiss, of the Wright Brothers School in New York City, is helping students grow a community garden. Students at Christ Church Episcopal School, in Greenville, South Carolina, are receiving help from librarian Jamie Gregory in learning about censorship and the meaning of intellectual freedom.

Roseanna Gulisano, at Highbridge School in New York City, has worked to raise money for more books for students who can't afford to buy them, along with funds to buy food and clothing. At the Evanston Public Library in Evanston, Illinois, Elacsha Madison has focused on teen programs in marginalized communities.

The awards were established in 2008. This year, judges at the library association chose the winners from more than 1,500 nominations.

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10 librarians nationwide receive I Love My Librarian awards

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NEW YORK -- Some are fighting local efforts to censor books, while others are focused on cultural programs, education about Ukraine or helping people buy groceries: These are this year's winners of the I Love My Librarian Award. Based everywhere from New York City to Carencro, Louisiana, the winners share a common desire to work closely with their patrons.

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NEW YORK (AP) - Some are fighting local efforts to censor books, while others are focused on cultural programs, education about Ukraine or helping people buy groceries: These are this year's winners of the I Love My Librarian Award.

Based everywhere from New York City to Carencro, Louisiana, the winners share a common desire to work closely with their patrons.

"Even in these unprecedented times and as our nation's library workers face historic levels of intimidation and harassment due to an ongoing wave of book censorship, librarians continue to empower their patrons, teach critical literacy skills, promote inclusion in their space and collections, and provide vital services for their communities," American Library Association President Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada said in a statement Tuesday.

Each of the 10 honorees will receive a $5,000 cash prize and a $750 travel stipend to attend the library association's LibLearnX event later this month in New Orleans. The awards are based on nominations from library users around the country and made possible by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and support from the New York Public Library.

Winners include Kathryn Blackmer Reyes of the San Jose State University library in San Jose, California, cited for how she promoted untold stories by Asian Americans, Native Americans and Hispanics among others. At the Highlands County Library System in Sebring, Florida, Vikki Brown successfully pressed for a grant to set up a mobile library for the rural population.

Cara Chance of the Lafayette Public Library, in Carencro, Louisiana, has battled efforts by the library's Board of Control to restricts books with LGBTQ themes. Tara Coleman, based at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, has led a campuswide common reading program; and David Ettinger, at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., is working with students on their research skills.

At Childs Elementary School, in Bloomington, Indiana, Julie Marie Frye is helping kids learn more about Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion. Lauren Ginsberg-DeVilbiss, of the Wright Brothers School in New York City, is helping students grow a community garden. Students at Christ Church Episcopal School, in Greenville, South Carolina, are receiving help from librarian Jamie Gregory in learning about censorship and the meaning of intellectual freedom.

Roseanna Gulisano, at Highbridge School in New York City, has worked to raise money for more books for students who can't afford to buy them, along with funds to buy food and clothing. At the Evanston Public Library in Evanston, Illinois, Elacsha Madison has focused on teen programs in marginalized communities.

The awards were established in 2008. This year, judges at the library association chose the winners from more than 1,500 nominations.

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10 librarians nationwide receive I Love My Librarian awards

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NEW YORK (AP) - Some are fighting local efforts to censor books, while others are focused on cultural programs, education about Ukraine or helping people buy groceries: These are this year's winners of the I Love My Librarian Award. Based everywhere from New York City to Carencro, Louisiana, the winners share a common desire to work closely with their patrons.

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/ CBS New York

NEW YORK -- Two New York City school librarians are receiving national recognition for their impactful work.

"The library is more than four walls," said Lauren Ginsberg-Devilbiss told CBS2's Elijah Westbrook.

Ginsberg-Devilbiss works at P.S. 28 Wright Brothers School in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood. For her, bringing the outside in is key.

"It's how many experiences can my children get from the time they come here in pre-k to the time they leave here in fifth grade that is exposing them to anything," she said.

Community partnerships are essential for Ginsberg-Devilbiss. For years, she's created and grown high interest programs, such as the school's, "Book of the Month" and "Career Week."

"In any initiative I do, I think how can I make it big and how can I make it fierce?" she said.

"She's very proactive, she's always speaking and talking to the kids and encouraging them to become better," said Ana Reyes, the library's assistant, who works closely with Ginsberg-Devilbiss. "This is their comfortable space. They love to come to the library."

Ginsberg says she continues to focus several of her initiatives on sustainability. In fact, the library received a digital beehive, which has sparked classroom conversations about bees, pollinators and food. She's also working on growing a community garden just outside the school, which is expected to be finished in the spring.

"Ordinary people can do extraordinary things. The kids did a lot to get that garden," she said. "Kids can change the world."

The community work doesn't stop there. About 15 minutes north east of Washington Heights, in the Bronx, Roseanna Gulisano has made it her mission to ensure students and their families have access to books and more.

"The community as a whole is really what instructed me," said Gulisano. "There's something about me that the people who I care the most about, the families trust. That is extremely meaningful."

From securing donations for school materials, to giving clothes and groceries at a nearby park, those on the receiving end say she's soared above the call of duty for her community.

"Groceries were coming in, books were coming in, clothes were coming in and many many more. Thank you for everything that you have done Ms. Gulisano for the families. We love you!" said Kady, a parent at Highbridge school.

"The parents that want to better their life and better the future of their children that come to me and express that, that keeps guiding me," Gulisano said.

Gulisano and Ginsberg-Devilbiss were selected from more than 1,500 nominations from library users nationwide, earning the American Library Associations, "I Love My Librarian Award."

A well-deserved honor recognizing two hard working women making a difference.

Elijah Westbrook

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2 NYC school librarians earn national award for going beyond the call for their communities

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CBS New York NEW YORK -- Two New York City school librarians are receiving national recognition for their impactful work. "The library is more than four walls," said Lauren Ginsberg-Devilbiss told CBS2's Elijah Westbrook. Ginsberg-Devilbiss works at P.S. 28 Wright Brothers School in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood.

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On January 17, the American Library Association (ALA) announced 10 recipients of the 2023 I Love My Librarian Award. This year, three academic librarians, three public librarians, and four school librarians were selected to receive the honor. Each recipient is nominated by patrons for their expertise, dedication, and profound impact in their communities.

"Even in these unprecedented times, and as our nation's library workers face historic levels of intimidation and harassment due to an ongoing wave of book censorship, librarians continue to empower their patrons, teach critical literacy skills, promote inclusion in their space and collections, and provide vital services for their communities," said ALA President Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada in a January 17 statement. "Congratulations to this year's I Love My Librarian Award honorees, who positively impact the lives of those they serve every day."

ALA received more than 1,500 nominations from library users for this year's award, demonstrating the breadth of librarians' impact across the country. Hundreds of nominations focused on librarians' outstanding service during the COVID-19 pandemic and the fight against censorship that continues to roil communities across the US.

Each honoree will receive a $5,000 cash prize as well as complimentary registration and a travel stipend to attend ALA's LibLearnX conference in New Orleans. The award ceremony will take place during the LibLearnX welcome reception on January 27.

Kathryn Blackmer Reyes

Librarian
San José (Calif.) State University

As director of the Africana, Asian American, Chicano, and Native American Studies Center at San José State University (SJSU), Blackmer Reyes has worked to identify and give visibility to lost and untold stories of communities of color in the Santa Clara Valley. She has also created a unique and welcoming space on campus filled with vibrant collections and programming.

Among Blacker Reyes's many accomplishments is her oversight of the library's annual Día de los Muertos celebration. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2022, the event-held in collaboration with the San José Multicultural Artists Guild and the San José Public Library-highlights the history and cultural tradition of the Mexican holiday with an exhibit featuring altars created by local artists, educational programming, performances, and food.

"Kathy is an inspirational, creative librarian and leader who seeks out and delivers cultural programming and exhibits for SJSU and the San José community that are unique and inclusive," her nominators wrote. "Her passion and love for her profession is infectious."

Vikki Brown

Library System Manager and Coordinator
Highlands County (Fla.) Library System

Brown is the manager of the Highlands County Library System (HCLS) and coordinator for the Heartland Library Cooperative, which includes five county library systems and serves the residents of a largely rural and agricultural area in Florida. It's a role her nominators say she has dreamt of having since before she began volunteering at HCLS's Sebring Public Library branch at age 12, and one she stepped into just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To provide services for the library cooperative's rural population area, Brown has ramped up its outreach efforts, including securing grants for a mobile library, internet hotspots, storytime events, and more. The cooperative's mobile library, which travels to multiple cities across the cooperative's service area, provides materials for check out, Wi-Fi and computer access, and printing services.

"Vikki's commitment to her staff, patrons, and community is admirable," her nominators wrote. "Her dedication is the stuff that dreams are made of."

Cara Chance

Regional Branch Manager
Lafayette (La.) Public Library

As manager of the Lafayette Public Library's North Regional Branch, Cara Chance is on the front lines in the fight against book censorship. Her efforts to construct inclusive displays featuring books with LGBTQ+ themes have put her at odds with the library's conservative Board of Control . Chance has spoken in defense of inclusive materials in the library, and her local community has responded with overwhelming support as a result of her ongoing service to its residents.

Beyond her efforts in fighting censorship, Chance helped establish the library's makerspace program, which has reached learners and creators of all ages. She coproduced Lafayette's first citywide Maker Faire, drawing hundreds of families to the downtown area and featuring a wide array of crafts and creations from local makers.

"Cara Chance exemplifies everything a librarian should be," her nominators wrote. "Thousands of patrons over the years have been positively impacted by her efforts."

Tara Coleman

Associate Professor and Program Services Coordinator
Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas

Tara Coleman is the mastermind behind Kansas State University's K-State First Book program, a campuswide common reading initiative that serves as a centerpiece of the university's first-year experience program. Since its inception in 2010, K-State First Book has grown into a massive success and a core element of campus culture, with 80%-85% of new students reporting having read all or part of the book selected for their year.

Through Coleman's efforts, the program has grown to include a wide array of campus events throughout the academic year including author talks, lectures, and panel discussions. Faculty are encouraged to incorporate the book into their curricula, and the program offers multiple awards to students, faculty, and staff for engagement with each year's book.

"Tara has helped make a reading practice one of the signature things one does at Kansas State," her nominators wrote, "and she has done so in a way that welcomes the new students to campus and lets them know they belong here."

David Ettinger

International Affairs and Political Science Librarian
George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

At George Washington University, David Ettinger uses his expertise in international affairs and political science to support and shape the research mission of the university. This includes helping steward the library's acquisition of one of the largest international affairs collections in the Washington, D.C., area.

From building creative and thematic research guides that incentivize intellectual curiosity to delivering entertaining and accessible instruction sessions, Ettinger's student-centered approach to research assistance is improving student learning while highlighting the library's role in advancing student success. Student and faculty nominators praised Ettinger's classroom instruction and individualized research assistance as engaging, accessible, and formative in shaping their relationship with the library.

"David is an outstanding colleague and citizen of the university," one of his nominators wrote, "and he has had an exceptional impact on a staggering number of students!"

Julie Marie Frye

Primary Years Program School Librarian and Tech Coordinator
Childs Elementary School in Bloomington, Indiana

From delivering weekend literacy lessons to immigrant families to facilitating lighting talks culminating from student research to organizing a young authors and illustrators fair, Julie Marie Frye is working to create a more hopeful and just future through literacy and inclusivity. At Childs Elementary School, Frye has taken initiative far beyond the traditional librarian role to highlight and bring understanding to current events and the experiences of other communities.

Following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Frye designed an inquiry room for students to learn and ask questions about Ukrainian culture, the war, and conflicting media messages surrounding the conflict. Set up like a museum gallery featuring Ukrainian artwork, clothing, music, maps, statistics and more, students were able to engage with the gallery in a variety of ways, among them writing letters to students in Ukraine. After sending letters to 10 schools in Poland and Ukraine, Frye created a public exhibit with the correspondence and photos from one school that responded, reminding students that small actions make a difference in the lives of others, even across the world.

"She approaches students of all ages with a keen devotion to their unique inquiries and literacy needs," Frye's nominators wrote. "She meets challenges and opportunities with professional integrity and dignity, and we are grateful for the gift of her generous spirit."

Lauren Ginsberg-DeVilbiss

Library Media Specialist
Wright Brothers School in New York City

Outside partnerships are a key to Lauren Ginsberg-DeVilbiss's efforts to engage the students at the Wright Brothers School. For years, she has created and grown high-interest programs such as the school's Book of the Month program featuring author talks and a career week that invites an array of professionals to speak to students, as well as created an inclusive environment for students to thrive, learn, and feel welcome.

As the school's library media specialist and sustainability coordinator, Ginsberg-DeVilbiss has focused several of her initiatives on sustainability. In one partnership with Savannah Bee Company owner Ted Dennard, the library received a digital beehive, sparking conversations and lessons about pollinators, sustainability, food, and the importance of bees. In another partnership with local organization Harlem Grown-and with the help of grant funding-the school is working to grow a community garden.

"Lauren is a testament to how vital an inspiring library is for a child's development," one of her nominators wrote. "She passionately advocates for what she believes will most impact her patrons and the school community she serves."

Jamie Gregory

Upper School Librarian and Journalism/Newspaper Teacher
Christ Church Episcopal School in Greenville, South Carolina

Upper school students at Christ Church Episcopal School are becoming critical thinkers and finding their voices with the help of Jamie Gregory. Coupling library instruction with her role as the school's journalism teacher, Gregory provides students with strong news and media literacy skills as well as a deeper understanding of censorship and intellectual freedom.

In one collaboration with a history teacher, Gregory curated a variety of resources for students learning about labor unions, including political cartoons, photographs, a memoir and virtual visit from a local author, and a documentary that had been censored in the state. The school's location in a rural-suburban area with previously functioning mills enabled students to connect lessons and resources to family stories related to mills and labor unions while building media literacy skills.

"Jamie Gregory doesn't see students; she sees people, which has allowed her to master using a student-centered approach to instruction through the school library and her journalism classroom," her nominators wrote. "Her library is a springboard for empowering people to value lifelong learning."

Roseanna Gulisano

Librarian
Highbridge School in Bronx, New York

In an underserved district with a high rate of poverty and no nearby bookstores, Highbridge School librarian Roseanna Gulisano has made it her mission to ensure students and their families have access to books and more. From securing donations for school materials to distributing clothes and groceries in a local park during the COVID-19 pandemic, she has soared above the call of duty for her community.

Splitting her time between the school's two libraries as well as a full teaching schedule of elementary students, Gulisano has worked to procure funding for a variety of student needs, from books reflecting their lives that students keep to build their own home libraries to groceries and coats for families struggling to afford meals and stay warm in the winter to library technology and furnishings that encourage reading and use of the library space. Additionally, she hosts family reading nights in the community, where families can take home books as well as sign up for public library cards with the New York Public Library, which Gulisano liaises with on behalf of the school.

"Roseanna Gulisano is our school librarian, but her nickname should be Wonder Woman," wrote one of her nominators. "Her energy is radiant, and her students thrive off her energy and love for reading."

Elacsha Madison

Interim Innovation and Digital Learning Manager
Evanston (Ill.) Public Library

Just north of Chicago, Elacsha Madison is elevating Evanston Public Library's teen outreach efforts through her work from and beyond the library's teen Loft space. She has brought an abundance of innovative STEAM programs and resources to marginalized communities, including building technology, do-it-yourself cosmetics, community gardening, and more.

In partnership with school librarians in the district, Madison has hosted a recurring "Taste of the Loft" event at local schools and parks, where students could sample various library programs and offerings such as drumming, coding, and crafts. In another partnership with Evanston Grows, a local organization addressing food injustice, Madison coordinated book donations for farmstand patrons to take home alongside free organic produce.

"Elacsha Madison is not just a librarian," her nominators wrote. "She is first and foremost a community builder and friend to all she meets, and more than that, there's nothing about this librarian that the community doesn't love."

Since 2008, library users have shared more than 23,000 nominations detailing how librarians have gone above and beyond to promote literacy, expand access to technology, and support diversity and inclusion in their communities. Carnegie Corporation of New York sponsors the I Love My Librarian Award, with additional support from the New York Public Library. The award is administered by ALA.

Read more about previous award recipients on the I Love My Librarian Award website.

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Meet the 2023 I Love My Librarian Award Honorees | American Libraries Magazine

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On January 17, the American Library Association (ALA) announced 10 recipients of the 2023 I Love My Librarian Award. This year, three academic librarians, three public librarians, and four school librarians were selected to receive the honor. Each recipient is nominated by patrons for their expertise, dedication, and profound impact in their communities.

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Not one but TWO NYC school librarians have been honored with a 2023 @ALALibrary #ILoveMyLibrarian Award! Congratulations to Lauren Ginsberg-DeVilbiss at PS 28 in Manhattan and Roseanna Gulisano at PS 11 in the Bronx 📚👏 @NYCDOEOLS 

https://t.co/SpMsBrDYPe

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I Love My Librarian Award | 2023 Honorees

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More than 1,500 library users submitted stories highlighting librarians' service to their communities. Meet America's favorite librarians!

# data[].attributes.wish_content.attachment_props.original_text
Not one but TWO NYC school librarians have been honored with a 2023 @ALALibrary #ILoveMyLibrarian Award! Congratulations to Lauren Ginsberg-DeVilbiss at PS 28 in Manhattan and Roseanna Gulisano at PS 11 in the Bronx 📚👏 @NYCDOEOLS 

https://t.co/SpMsBrDYPe

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Not one but TWO NYC school librarians have been honored with a 2023 @ALALibrary #ILoveMyLibrarian Award! Congratulations to Lauren Ginsberg-DeVilbiss at PS 28 in Manhattan and Roseanna Gulisano at PS 11 in the Bronx 📚👏 @NYCDOEOLS https://t.co/SpMsBrDYPe
— UFT (@UFT) January 17, 2023

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Not one but TWO NYC school librarians have been honored with a 2023 @ALALibrary #ILoveMyLibrarian Award! Congratulations to Lauren Ginsberg-DeVilbiss at PS 28 in Manhattan and Roseanna Gulisano at PS 11 in the Bronx 📚👏 @NYCDOEOLS 

https://t.co/SpMsBrDYPe

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props_source.data.entities.urls[].title
I Love My Librarian Award | 2023 Honorees

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props_source.data.entities.urls[].description
More than 1,500 library users submitted stories highlighting librarians' service to their communities. Meet America's favorite librarians!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.original_text
Not one but TWO NYC school librarians have been honored with a 2023 @ALALibrary #ILoveMyLibrarian Award! Congratulations to Lauren Ginsberg-DeVilbiss at PS 28 in Manhattan and Roseanna Gulisano at PS 11 in the Bronx 📚👏 @NYCDOEOLS 

https://t.co/SpMsBrDYPe

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.text
Not one but TWO NYC school librarians have been honored with a 2023 @ALALibrary #ILoveMyLibrarian Award! Congratulations to Lauren Ginsberg-DeVilbiss at PS 28 in Manhattan and Roseanna Gulisano at PS 11 in the Bronx 📚👏 @NYCDOEOLS 

https://t.co/SpMsBrDYPe

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.entities.urls[].title
I Love My Librarian Award | 2023 Honorees

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.entities.urls[].description
More than 1,500 library users submitted stories highlighting librarians' service to their communities. Meet America's favorite librarians!

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Congratulations to the school librarian recipients of the 2023 I Love My Librarian Award:  Julie Marie Frye, Lauren Ginsberg-DeVilbiss, Jamie M. Gregory, and Roseanna Gulisano! https://t.co/CTFLhcNnw5

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I Love My Librarian Award | 2023 Honorees

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More than 1,500 library users submitted stories highlighting librarians' service to their communities. Meet America's favorite librarians!

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Congratulations to the school librarian recipients of the 2023 I Love My Librarian Award:  Julie Marie Frye, Lauren Ginsberg-DeVilbiss, Jamie M. Gregory, and Roseanna Gulisano! https://t.co/CTFLhcNnw5 https://t.co/ex3x7G40H8

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Congratulations to the school librarian recipients of the 2023 I Love My Librarian Award: Julie Marie Frye, Lauren Ginsberg-DeVilbiss, Jamie M. Gregory, and Roseanna Gulisano! https://t.co/CTFLhcNnw5 pic.twitter.com/ex3x7G40H8
— AASL (@aasl) January 17, 2023

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I Love My Librarian Award | 2023 Honorees

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props_source.data.entities.urls[].description
More than 1,500 library users submitted stories highlighting librarians' service to their communities. Meet America's favorite librarians!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props_source.data.text
Congratulations to the school librarian recipients of the 2023 I Love My Librarian Award:  Julie Marie Frye, Lauren Ginsberg-DeVilbiss, Jamie M. Gregory, and Roseanna Gulisano! https://t.co/CTFLhcNnw5 https://t.co/ex3x7G40H8

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.original_text
Congratulations to the school librarian recipients of the 2023 I Love My Librarian Award:  Julie Marie Frye, Lauren Ginsberg-DeVilbiss, Jamie M. Gregory, and Roseanna Gulisano! https://t.co/CTFLhcNnw5 https://t.co/ex3x7G40H8

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.text
Congratulations to the school librarian recipients of the 2023 I Love My Librarian Award:  Julie Marie Frye, Lauren Ginsberg-DeVilbiss, Jamie M. Gregory, and Roseanna Gulisano! https://t.co/CTFLhcNnw5

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.entities.urls[].title
I Love My Librarian Award | 2023 Honorees

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.entities.urls[].description
More than 1,500 library users submitted stories highlighting librarians' service to their communities. Meet America's favorite librarians!

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Congratulations to Washington Heights' own Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss, @PS28Library. 🎉 

Thank you for all your incredible work at P.S. 28, the Wright Brothers School. 

You make our community so proud! 📚🍎 https://t.co/DouqGotaUO

# data[].attributes.wish_content.attachment_props.original_text
Congratulations to Washington Heights' own Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss, @PS28Library. 🎉 

Thank you for all your incredible work at P.S. 28, the Wright Brothers School. 

You make our community so proud! 📚🍎 https://t.co/DouqGotaUO

# data[].attributes.wish_content.attachment_props.referenced_tweets[].text
Meet Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss of the Wright Brothers School @PS28Library, one of this year's recipients of the #ILoveMyLibrarian Award! Lauren and the other nine recipients will be honored during #LibLearnX23. @NYCSchools https://t.co/Pz4xQsfNh3

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Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss | I Love My Librarian Award Honoree

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Meet Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss, a recipient of the 2023 I Love My Librarian Award.

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Congratulations to Washington Heights' own Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss, @PS28Library. 🎉

Thank you for all your incredible work at P.S. 28, the Wright Brothers School.

You make our community so proud! 📚🍎 https://t.co/DouqGotaUO
— Adriano Espaillat (@RepEspaillat) March 9, 2023

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props_source.data.text
Congratulations to Washington Heights' own Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss, @PS28Library. 🎉 

Thank you for all your incredible work at P.S. 28, the Wright Brothers School. 

You make our community so proud! 📚🍎 https://t.co/DouqGotaUO

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props_source.includes.tweets[].entities.urls[].title
Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss | I Love My Librarian Award Honoree

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props_source.includes.tweets[].entities.urls[].description
Meet Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss, a recipient of the 2023 I Love My Librarian Award.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props_source.includes.tweets[].text
Meet Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss of the Wright Brothers School @PS28Library, one of this year's recipients of the #ILoveMyLibrarian Award! Lauren and the other nine recipients will be honored during #LibLearnX23. @NYCSchools https://t.co/Pz4xQsfNh3

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.original_text
Congratulations to Washington Heights' own Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss, @PS28Library. 🎉 

Thank you for all your incredible work at P.S. 28, the Wright Brothers School. 

You make our community so proud! 📚🍎 https://t.co/DouqGotaUO

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.text
Congratulations to Washington Heights' own Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss, @PS28Library. 🎉 

Thank you for all your incredible work at P.S. 28, the Wright Brothers School. 

You make our community so proud! 📚🍎 https://t.co/DouqGotaUO

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.referenced_tweets[].entities.urls[].title
Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss | I Love My Librarian Award Honoree

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.referenced_tweets[].entities.urls[].description
Meet Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss, a recipient of the 2023 I Love My Librarian Award.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.referenced_tweets[].text
Meet Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss of the Wright Brothers School @PS28Library, one of this year's recipients of the #ILoveMyLibrarian Award! Lauren and the other nine recipients will be honored during #LibLearnX23. @NYCSchools https://t.co/Pz4xQsfNh3

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Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss '17 is the recipient of an I Love My Librarian Award, a prestigious honor awarded by the American Library Association recognizing the accomplishments of librarians. Ginsberg DeVilbiss develops partnerships with outside organizations to engage students and their love for reading at the Wright Brothers School in New York City.

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Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss '17 is the recipient of an I Love My Librarian Award, a prestigious honor awarded by the American Library Association recognizing the accomplishments of librarians. Ginsberg DeVilbiss develops partnerships with outside organizations to engage students and their love for reading at the Wright Brothers School in New York City.

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Reading room of the St. Louis Central Public Library on Olive Street in St. Louis in 2015. Photo courtesy iStock:

By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - Some are fighting local efforts to censor books, while others are focused on cultural programs, education about Ukraine or helping people buy groceries: These are this year's winners of the I Love My Librarian Award.

Based everywhere from New York City to Carencro, La., the winners share a common desire to work closely with their patrons.

"Even in these unprecedented times and as our nation's library workers face historic levels of intimidation and harassment due to an ongoing wave of book censorship, librarians continue to empower their patrons, teach critical literacy skills, promote inclusion in their space and collections, and provide vital services for their communities," American Library Association President Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada said in a statement on Jan. 17.

Each of the 10 honorees will receive a $5,000 cash prize and a $750 travel stipend to attend the library association's LibLearnX event later this month in New Orleans. The awards are based on nominations from library users around the country and made possible by a grant from the Carnegie Corp. of New York and support from the New York Public Library.

Winners include Kathryn Blackmer Reyes of the San Jose State University library in San Jose, Calif., cited for how she promoted untold stories by Asian-Americans, Native Americans and Hispanics, among others. At the Highlands County Library System in Sebring, Fla, Vikki Brown successfully pressed for a grant to set up a mobile library for the rural population.

Cara Chance of the Lafayette Public Library, in Carencro, La., has battled efforts by the library's Board of Control to restrict books with LGBTQ themes. Tara Coleman, based at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan., has led a campus-wide common reading program; and David Ettinger, at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., is working with students on their research skills.

At Childs Elementary School, in Bloomington, Ind., Julie Marie Frye is helping kids learn more about Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion. Lauren Ginsberg-DeVilbiss, of the Wright Brothers School in New York City, is helping students grow a community garden. Students at Christ Church Episcopal School, in Greenville, S.C., are receiving help from librarian Jamie Gregory in learning about censorship and the meaning of intellectual freedom.

Roseanna Gulisano, at Highbridge School in New York City, has worked to raise money for more books for students who can't afford to buy them, along with funds to buy food and clothing. At the Evanston Public Library in Evanston, Ill., Elacsha Madison has focused on teen programs in marginalized communities.

The awards were established in 2008. This year, judges at the library association chose the winners from more than 1,500 nominations.
The Free Speech Center newsletter offers a digest of First Amendment and news media-related news every other week. Subscribe for free here: https://bit.ly/3kG9uiJ

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10 librarians nationwide receive I Love My Librarian awards

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Reading room of the St. Louis Central Public Library on Olive Street in St. Louis in 2015. Photo courtesy iStock: By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) - Some are fighting local efforts to censor books, while others are focused on cultural programs, education about Ukraine or helping people buy groceries: These are this year's winners of the I Love My Librarian Award.

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Happy new year library colleagues! And welcome to 2023! For this month's issue, we have three feature articles and an informational article by our own Leanne Ellis. First, we hear from Christina Gavin, who shares the work she does to advocate for school libraries through the UFT. Next, Jillian Rudes shares her new book coming out and some other useful information about using manga in the classroom and library, and finally, we hear from Lauren Ginsberg-DeVilbiss, who is the sustainability coordinator in her school, and how she has inspired her students to fight against climate change. Also, please check out a variety of grant opportunities for you and your students! Happy reading! - Patricia Sarles, editor.

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New York City School Library System: NYC School Library System Homepage: Sharing Times 2.0 Newsletter

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Happy new year library colleagues! And welcome to 2023! For this month's issue, we have three feature articles and an informational article by our own Leanne Ellis. First, we hear from Christina Gavin, who shares the work she does to advocate for school libraries through the UFT.

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WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY - A Washington Heights librarian recently made the Upper Manhattan community proud by winning a national award for her work with students.

Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss, who works as a librarian at P.S. 28 Wright Brothers School at 475 W. 155th St., was selected from more than 1,500 nominations from library users nationwide for the 2023 "I Love My Librarian Award."

Meet Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss of the Wright Brothers School @PS28Library, one of this year's recipients of the #ILoveMyLibrarian Award! Lauren and the other nine recipients will be honored during #LibLearnX23. @NYCSchools https://t.co/Pz4xQsfNh3
- American Library Association (@ALALibrary) January 24, 2023

"For years, she has created and grown high interest programs such as the school's Book of the Month program featuring author talks and a career week that invites an array of professionals to speak to students, as well as created an inclusive environment for students to thrive, learn and feel welcome," reads a description of DeVilbiss' work in the uptown school.

DeVilbiss specifically works as the Wright Brothers School's library media specialist and sustainability coordinator.

The uptown school offer Pre-K through fifth grade, and has 469 students, according to the Department of Education.

Through her leadership, the library received a digital beehive, and she also helps oversee the school's community garden.

The award is sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, with additional support from the New York Public Library.

As part of DeVilbiss' award, she will receive a $5,000 cash price, as well as a travel stipend to attend ALA's LibLearnX event in New Orleans.

"Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss is a testament to how vital an inspiring library is for a child's development," reads a quote describing the Washington Heights' teacher on the ILoveLibraries website. "She passionately advocates for what she believes will most impact her patrons and the school community she serves."

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Washington Heights School Librarian Wins National Award

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WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY - A Washington Heights librarian recently made the Upper Manhattan community proud by winning a national award for her work with students. Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss, who works as a librarian at P.S. 28 Wright Brothers School at 475 W.